Description
NAD C3050
The NAD C3050 harks back to the 1970’s in terms of its retro looks but internally it sports the latest cutting-edge technology!
RETRO CHARM
A mix of retro and modern elements on the C 3050 make for a visually striking yet functionally impressive amplifier that captures the essence of NAD’s history and tradition. Dual VU meters, push-button input selectors, a walnut-finished vinyl-clad cabinet, and a dark grey front panel displaying the original New Acoustic Dimension logo in its 1970s cursive typeface seamlessly blend musings of the past with technologies of the future.
UNRIVALLED AMPLIFICATION
Employing NAD’s proven HybridDigital UcD amplifier technology, the NAD C3050 delivers 100 Watts per channel of continuous power and 135Wpc of instantaneous peak power for effortless reproduction of musical transients. Noise and distortion are virtually unmeasurable through the entire audio-band, resulting in neutral, distortion-free sound through any loudspeaker load—even at high listening levels. A powerful digital section leverages Texas Instruments’ PCM5242 high-resolution differential DAC, a design known for its excellent dynamic performance and immunity to clock jitter to ensure that every digital source is reproduced with musicality, stunning clarity, and pinpoint soundstage.
THE MDC2 ADVANTAGE
The C 3050 features the latest generation of NAD’s Modular Design Construction future-proofing technology, MDC2, which allows users to add new functions and features by inserting a module into the MDC2 slot on the back panel. The optional MDC2 BluOS-D module delivers two highly desirable capabilities: BluOS high-resolution music streaming and Dirac Live room correction.
Music Everywhere
Featuring dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, the highly acclaimed BluOS platform brings integrated support for more than 20 popular streaming services, including several that offer lossless and high-resolution audio, such as Amazon Music Ultra HD, Deezer, Qobuz, and Tidal. BluOS supports high-resolution audio to 24-bit/192kHz, with MQA decoding and rendering capability for studio-quality streaming. The MDC2 BluOS-D module also allows for playback from a personal library and thousands of internet radio stations. With the MDC2 BluOS-D card installed, the C 3050 can be part of a whole-home music system with as many as 64 zones.
Total Control
Various options for music control are made possible with the BluOS Controller app, available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. The MDC2 BluOS-D supports Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, so users can cue up music in the apps for those services, then transfer playback to the C 3050. Support for Apple AirPlay 2 allows streaming to the MDC2 BluOS-D from any app on an iPhone, iPad or Macintosh computer. Playback by voice is possible using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri, while advanced bidirectional aptX HD Bluetooth connectivity allows users to stream directly to the MDC2 BluOS-D from a smart device, or stream audio from the C 3050 to a pair of wireless headphones.
Dirac Room Correction
The optional MDC2 BluOS-D lets NAD C3050 owners address the weakest link in most music systems: the listening environment. Using a series of test tones played out to the listeners’ speakers, Dirac’s powerful software analyses the results and creates correction filters to counteract common acoustic problems like standing waves and unwanted reflections.
PLUG AND PLAY
With its full suite of digital and analogue inputs, the C 3050 makes room for various source components. Inputs include an ultra-low-noise MM phono input for turntable connection, HDMI eARC, coaxial, optical digital, and a pair of line-level analogue inputs. Listeners can connect two pairs of speakers with Speaker A/B switching, as well as a subwoofer. The C 3050 also has a dedicated headphone amplifier, and pre-out/main-in jacks to connect to a more powerful amplifier, or the option to be used as a preamp only. The C 3050 includes an IR remote control and has installer-friendly features like 12V trigger and IR input.
“The C 3050 may look like a throwback to the 70’s, and deliberately so, of course.” said Cas Oostvogel, Product Manager, NAD Electronics. “Yet at the same time it eclipses many of today’s amplifiers in upgradability, performance and forward-looking features.”
FEATURES AND DETAILS:
• Retro design elements include front-panel VU meters, push-button input controls, 1970s cursive branding, walnut-finished vinyl-clad cabinet, and dark grey front panel
• HybridDigital UcD Amplifier
• Continuous Power: 100 Watts per channel into 8/4 ohms
• Instantaneous Power: 135 Watts per channel
• Vanishingly low harmonic and intermodulation distortion
• MDC2 port for expanded functionality
• Optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS high-resolution multi-room music streaming and Dirac Live* room correction
• High-performance TI PCM5242 differential DAC
• Ultra-low noise MM phono stage with infrasonic filtering circuitry
• One optical, one coaxial digital input
• Pre-amp out/Main-in connections
• HDMI-eARC input
• One set of line-level analogue inputs with low-noise buffer amplifiers
• Speaker A/Speaker B outputs
• Subwoofer output
• Dedicated headphone amplifier
• IR remote control
• CI-friendly –12V Trigger out, IR in
• * 500Hz limited version of Dirac Live included. Full bandwidth license can be purchased from Dirac.com
LINE INPUT, PRE-OUT
- THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
- <0.005 % at 2V out
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio
- >95 dB (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out, unity gain)
- Channel separation
- >100 dB (1 kHz)
- >90 dB (10 kHz)
- Input impedance (R and C)
- 28 kohms + 360 pF
- Maximum input signal
- >4.5 Vrms (ref. 0.1 % THD)
- Output impedance
- 440 ohms
- Input sensitivity
- 270 mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
- Frequency response
- ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
- Maximum voltage output -IHF load
- >2 V (ref. 0.1 % THD)
PHONO INPUT, PRE-OUT
- THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
- <0.03% at 2 V out
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio
- >79 dB (200 ohms source; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out)
- Input Impedance (R and C)
- 46 kohms/100 pF
- Input sensitivity
- 5.5 mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
- Frequency response
- ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
- Maximum input signal at 1kHz
- >80 mVrms (ref. 0.1 % THD)
LINE INPUT, HEADPHONE OUT
- THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
- <0.005% at 1V out
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio
- >96 dB (32 ohms loads; A-WTD, ref. 2 V out, unity gain
- Frequency response
- ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
- Channel separation
- >60 dB at 1kHz
- Output impedance
- Output impedance
BluOS AUDIO
- Supported audio file format
- MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS
- Supported high- resolution audio file format
- FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF
- Sampling rate
- up to 192 kHz
- Bit depths
- 16 – 24
BluOS SUPPORTED SERVICES***
- Music Services
- Click here
- Internet Radio
- Click here
- Integration partners
- Control4, Crestron, ELAN, Lutron, Push, Roon, RTI, URC
- Voice Control
- Skills and support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri with corresponding enabled devices and App
BluOS CONNECTIVITY
- Network connectivity
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45
- Wi-Fi 5
- Supported network file share protocol
- Server Message Block (SMB)
- USB
- 1 x Type-A port for connection to USB memory stick (FAT32 or NTFS formatted) and supported peripherals
- Bluetooth quality
- aptX HD 5.0
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Two-Way (Receive and Headphone modes)
USER INTERFACE
- Supported operating system
- Music playback from network shares on the following desktop operating systems: Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, Vista, 7, 8 to current Windows Operating Systems and macOS versions
- Mobile Application
- Free BluOS Controller App available for download from the respective App stores of Apple iOS devices (iPad, iPhone and iPod), Android devices, Kindle Fire and Windows or macOS desktops
MAIN IN, SPEAKER OUT
- Continuous output power into 8 ohms and 4 ohms
100W (ref. 20 Hz-20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
- THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
<0.03% (250 mW to 100 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio
>95dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8 ohms)
- Clipping power
>115 W (at 1 kHz 0.1 % THD)
- IHF dynamic power
8 ohms: 180 W
4 ohms: 250W
2 ohms: 300 W
- Peak output current
>20A (in 1 ohm, 1 ms)
- Frequency response
±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
- Channel separation
>75dB (1 kHz)
>70dB (10 kHz)
- Input sensitivity (for 100 W in 8 ohms)
540 mV
Digital: -6dBFS
- Power consumption – at Auto Standby ON and Network Standby OFF
0.5 W*
- Power consumption – at Auto Standby ON and Network Standby ON
2.0 W**
- Power consumption – OFF mode (Power switched OFF)
0.1 W
- Frequency band
2.402G- 2.480G
DIMENSION AND WEIGHT
- Gross dimensions (W x H x D) ****
450 x 110 x 355mm
17 1/4 x 4 3/8 x 14 inches
- Net weight
10 kg (22 lbs)
- Shipping weight
12.6 kg (27.8 lbs)
*
* – After 20 minutes of no user interface interaction and no active source input
** – With established wired or wireless network connection, wireless Bluetooth connectivity and no user interface interaction and no active source input for 20 minutes
*** – Supported services may vary over time. Inquire via support.bluos.net for updated list.
**** – Gross dimension includes feet, volume knob and extended front and rear panel terminals.
Pete Brosnan –
What a great piece of kit! The retro looks are (imho) fab, but the sound and facilities are even better. The on-board TI DAC has already proved its worth by improving the sound of my CD player. Bluetooth connectivity is easy to set up and excellent quality. All in all, a winner at the price – I’ve heard £5k amps that don’t sound any better than this.